Coal stoker agitator



June 18,1935.

v. c. NoR' ussT 2,005,681

COAL STOKER AGITATOR Filed Jan. 19, 1934 nae:

A TTORNE Y 5 screw and a failure of coal supply Patented June ,18, 1935 COAL STOKER- AGITATOR Victor C. Norquist, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Butler Manufacturing Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application January 19, 1934, Serial No. 707,270

1 Claim.

My invention relates to coal stoker agitators and more particularly to an agitator which will prevent the packing of coal in the throat of a hopper with a resulting arching by the conveyor to the combustion pot of the stoker.

Frequently, in automatic coal stokers, if the coal used is fine and moist, it tends to pack in the throat of the hopper so that a failure of coal supply to the conveyor screw is had. This results in the extinguishing of the fire with attendant inconvenience and annoyance.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and efiicient agitating means which will preclude the packing of coal in the throat of a supply hopper of an automatic stoker.

Another object of my invention is to provide an agitator means which may be easily inspected, repaired, and replaced.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing which forms part of the instant specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a coal stoker equipped with one mode of carrying out my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on a line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on a line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on a line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In general, my invention contemplates the provision of an eccentric secured to and adapted to be rotated with the conveyor screw. An agitator member is supported by any suitable means againstlateral movement at an intermediate portion thereof. The lower end of the agitator member is secured to the eccentric by a strap. The upper end of the agitator member is provided with an arm or arms adapted to agitate the coal being fed to the conveyor screw and prevent it' becoming jammed or packed in the throat of the hopper.

More particularly referring now to the drawing, coal is fed through duct l to combustion pot 2 by conveyor screw 3. A coal hopper 4 is provided communicating with the conveyor screw 3. The conveyor screw is driven by any suitable means, not shown, which is adapted to rotate its shaft 5. Secured to the screw shaft 5 is an eccentric 6, keyed thereto by key I, or prevented from relative rotation in respect to shaft 5 by any suitable means. The agitator member proper comprises a pair of members 8 and 9, provided intermediate their ends with enlargements l and II. The members-8 and 9 are adapted to be fastened together by means of bolts l2 and It as can readily be seen by reference to Figure 4. The lower portions of members 8 and 9 are semi-circular and adapted, when clamped together, to form a straplike portion it surrounding the eccentric 6. The enlargements l0 and it form a fulcrum for the oscillation of the upper end of the agitator member. An arm I is provided with a square end portion l6 adapted to be clamped between members 8 and 9 as can readily be seen by reference to Figure 4. The arm l5 carries cross arms I1 and I8. Strap I9 is provided to furnish bearing surfaces for the fulcrum of the agitator member and also to limit the lateral movement of the intermediate portion in order to provide for combined vertical and oscillating movement of the upper end of the agitating member which carries the agitator arms.

In operation, as the shaft 5 rotates, coal'is fed to the combustion pot 2 by conveyor screw 3. The rotation of the conveyor screw 3 also rotates eccentric 6. The rotation of eccentric 6 causes the agitator member to reciprocate and to oscillate, the combined reciprocating and os-v cillating movement being effected by the .supporting of an intermediate portion'of the agitator against lateral movement by member IS. The upper end of the agitator member, it will be readily appreciated, will move in a combined upward and downward, and oscillating movement. The arm l5 and cross arms I! and I8 will serve to prevent the packing of coal in the throat of hopper 4, insuring that it be fed to the conveyor screw for passage to the combustion pot.

It will be'understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claim. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claim without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I

In a coal stoker, a coal duct having a hopper thereabove, a feed screw in the duct, an eccentric on the feed screw, an arm mounted on and extending upwardly from the eccentric, means for supporting an intermediate portion of said arm' against lateral movement, a second arm mounted on said first arm and extending outwardly therefrom, and an arm mounted transversely of and supported by said second arm.

VICTOR c. NORQUIST. 

